Posted on 01/17/2014 7:03:37 PM PST by rickmichaels
TORONTO - The TTC is apologizing to a former employee who posted a rant online blasting managers and union officials for not planing a retirement party to mark the end of his 31-years on the job.
The man, who identifies himself as Ron Mitchell, posted the video on YouTube last week. He rails against the commission and transit workers union, decrying their lack of gratitude. The video is a walking tour of sorts of a TTC building which he indicates is the Greenwood Yard.
“After 31 years at TTC, this is my retirement party,” he said panning around an empty break room. “This is my last day on the job and there’s not a soul here.”
The man rages about how notices are posted in a glass case noting managers who retired, praising their work. But unionized staff get no such thing he says.
The man thanks his co-workers who got him coffee and doughnuts a few days before his retirement.
“But what do I get from my own union and my own management, nothing,” he said.
He then walks down into a shop and picks up a yellow hardhat plastered with stickers and an old pair of work boots.
“That ends my career at TTC,” he said, tossing the hardhat and boots into a dumpster outside the shop. “Thirty years and nine months and what do I get? Nothing, which is what they’ll get from me now. Nothing.”
TTC spokesman Brad Ross apologized for what he called a “mix-up” between Mitchell and his supervisor.
They had discussed a party but since his last day occurred close to the Christmas holidays “it fell through the cracks,” he said.
“We do apologize,” Ross said. “This is a simple miscommunication that should not have occurred.”
The TTC has made attempts to reach out to Mitchell and is willing to throw him a party if he’d still like one, he said. The TTC does regularly throw retirement parties for its employees, especially those who have served for decades, he said.
“We pride ourselves on being a good employer,” Ross said. “This is something that is most unfortunate and we regret terribly and do apologize to Mr. Mitchell. We value the long-service of our employees ... three-plus decades, that’s quite exceptional. We need to correct this and we are.”
Bob Kinnear, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 113, said he was “disheartened” to hear a member’s retirement party was overlooked. The union has twice yearly retirement events to honour the service of former TTC workers.
“It obviously is disappointing that a member of our union, after 31 years of commitment to public transit feels that way,” Kinnear said. “In saying that, from the union’s perspective, we recognize all of our retirees who want to be recognized.”
Kinnear said Mitchell worked an overnight shift, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. It may have been difficult for managers to arrange a party during those hours.
Mitchell posted an update under his YouTube video, saying that he has accepted a heartfelt apology from his supervisor who reached out. But it was a hard way to end his career, he said.
“To finish my career that way broke my heart and made me very bitter,” Mitchell wrote. “Ever(y)thing I have today is because of the TTC.”
Hold (and fund) your own party.
Maybe his co-workers did throw a party to celebrate his retirement and didn't invite him.
I want a pony....WAAHHH!!!
I retired from the military just like I entered, with no parade, no farewell ceremony or flowers for my spouse. Went to finance and settled up accounts, turned in my gear, continued on with my life. It’s a job not a popularity contest. Whiners like this don’t realize that in a couple of years no one will even remember him.
Typical union member.
Owed everything, pay for nothing.
I worked with these crybabies for years. It was about how little work they could do to get by and when was it time for break or lunch or quitting time.
Welcome to civilian life, after 10 years I left too, I’m loving it.
When I left I got plaques and frames with certificates and a company send off. I didn’t ask for any of it, nor did I want it, but it’s a brother thing here heh.
If you’re looking for something to do, feel free to ask me about things.
Mitchell wrote. “Ever(y)thing I have today is because of the TTC.”...So, what’s his bitch?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.